News

Ontario Supporting Non-Profits as Province Recovers from COVID-19

Grant program will ensure local Nipissing Royal Canadian Legions and non-profits can continue to deliver vital services  

NORTH BAY – The Ontario government is investing $83 million through the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) to provide grants to help eligible non-profit organizations across the province, including non-profits and the five royal Canadian Legion branches in Nipissing to recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and continue to deliver the vital programming our community needs.

The announcement was made on August 5, by Premier Doug Ford and Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries.

“I am proud of the hundreds of volunteer organizations and thousands of volunteers who have stepped up over the last few months and shown the Ontario spirit in caring for others through these difficult times,” said Premier Ford. “We are proud to provide critical funding today to these local organizations, including our local Legion branches and food banks, to help strengthen our communities and help people rebuild their lives.”

“The Royal Canadian Legion is a valued part of Ontario’s history and culture and are integral to our communities,” said Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing. “They help us honour our heroes – the soldiers, past and present – of all backgrounds who have fought to protect and uphold our values and freedoms.”

“Our five Legion branches are also integral to Nipissing’s communities – sponsoring local sports, youth and seniors’ programs, and offering a safe, friendly space for community events.”

“Our government encourages all Legion branches and non-profit organizations who may need assistance to contact the OTF for more information and support through the application process.”

The OTF’s Resilient Communities Fund will provide grants of up to $150,000 to help eligible non-profit organizations in Nipissing rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19 with support for:

• Equipping board members and employees with supports to implement new approaches, prepare for change and build resiliency (e.g. organizational training and coaching, strategic planning and implementation, research & development, mental and physical health and wellbeing supports);
• Improving and increasing ability to access financial resources and develop new and/or alternative sources of revenues (e.g. develop fundraising plans, identify fundraising and financial technology resources, seek opportunities for public-private partnerships and social finance);
• Adapting or re-imagining the delivery of programs and services to meet the needs of the community, employees and volunteers (e.g. identify new health and safety processes and required personal protective equipment; technology supports; staffing and volunteer recruitment and training);
• Procuring equipment or renovating spaces to meet the changing needs of the organization; its programs and services, and adapt to new ways of working (e.g. equipment and/or renovations to meet changing technology health and safety, and service delivery requirements); and
• Creating and/or adopting new approaches for organizations to work together to meet the needs of communities (e.g. peer learning, professional development, networking, resource, knowledge and data sharing).

For more information, please visit the Ontario Trillium Foundation website on eligibility requirements and application deadlines, or contact my office at andrea.stoppa@pc.ola.org .

QUICK FACTS

• The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations.
• OTF awarded $115 million to 645 projects last year to build healthy and vibrant communities in Ontario.
• OTF has redirected provincial funding previously allocated for the 2020 Grow and Capital grant streams into the one-time, $83 million Resilient Communities Fund.
• Provincial funding delivered through the Ontario Trillium Foundation supports the arts, culture, heritage, sports and recreation, human and social services, and environment sectors.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19

Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.